1998: Received Town Meeting approval and funding for schematic design.

1999: Received state grant of $20,000 for design and Town Meeting approval to proceed; hired architect;

2000: Received approval and funding at Town Meeting for the expansion/renovation, contingent on state construction grant;

2001: Approved for grant, but placed on waiting list.

2005: Received first installment of grant; major fundraising events scheduled; Town Meeting approved of funds for temporary quarters and related costs;

2007: Accepted bids from subcontractors and the general contractor.

Requested and received additional allocation from Town Meeting to address escalation of construction costs.

Selected Souliere and Zepka of Adams, Massachusetts, as contractor.*

Moved from 34 Main St. to 71 Lyman St. in July; opened in temporary quarters in August.

Groundbreaking ceremony in October.

Site work and demolition began in November.

2008: Construction of 21,000 sq. ft. addition, and renovation of the original 1894 building.

2009: Moved from temporary site on Lyman St. back to 34 Main St. in January.

Opened to the public in March.

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*Shortly after we received our final funding, the Library Building Committee rejected the lowest apparent bidder for General Contractor.The decision was based on reference checks done by our project manager, Paul Griffin, and the (then) Assistant Town Administrator, John Coderre.The Committee chose the next lowest bidder, Souliere and Zepka of Adams, Massachusetts, who had excellent references.Unfortunately, the losing bidder, Barr, Inc., of Connecticut, filed an injunction against the Town to prevent the start of work on the project.When the first court affirmed Northborough’s decision (as well as in a subsequent appeal), Barr appealed to a federal court in Boston.The Appeals Court ruled in the Town’s favor at the end of September, upholding the right of a Town to hire the lowest qualified bidder, allowing rejection of a contractor after performing due diligence with a thorough background check.